Sunfire Jr vs. Sunfire True Mark IV

[Azeke]

Okay, my Sunfire True Mark IV has some damage, so I had to send it back to Sunfire. But wait, Sunfire says you can take it back to your dealer and have them send it in. Cool, maybe I can get my dealer to loan me another sub while mine is in the shop. Sure enough my dealer says I loan you the Sunfire Jr. you might be surprised. Hey that's cool, at least I have a sub until my returns. I get it home hook everything up, recalibrate the sub, and wow, it sounds better than my Mark IV (faster in music). So now I'm thinking get two of these puppies and I'll be set right. Wrong, Sunfire now has a subwoofer that has an auto calibrator built in with a Mic, and it's very pretty.

I can't spend any more money (promised the wife), I'm trying to upgrade to this beautiful sub, but I believe my one year upgrade policy has expired.

That's my story, any comments/advice is welcome.

Regards,

Azeke

[Bam!]

Azeke!

I hear you!

One of my buddies had a brand new Sunfire Jr sub......tiny little buggar.....but the dynamics and the overall thunder is :E

Placing 2 subs in a room is always really really hard........but always doable with the right buddies :W :lol:

:T

[Azeke]

Yeah Bam, I know it's difficult to place two subs and obtain acoustical balance, but hey I can dream can't I . I guess I better save up for some spectrum analyzer software :lol:

Regards,

Azeke

[rich0372]

Hey guys I have the true sunfire signiture you should try that one on for size trust me your dreams of 2 subs will come true with one I autioned them both before I purchased it the mark 1V and signiture sound basiclly the same just alot more spl out of the signiture


Rich

[Azeke]

Rich,

Yes, but now Sunfire has two new subs, that have replaced the previous sunfires that you have mentioned, which include a new beautiful look, as well as auto-calibration (mic included). Take a look at those puppies, that's what caught my eye. It's no longer a ugly beast in the corner, if you catch my drift.

Regards,

Azeke

[rich0372]

Why new ones I might be catching the upgrade bug :wink: Well I was thinking of getting another sub even though one is enough I will definely check them out. your right the new ones do look nicer

Rich

[boe]

Strange

I don't like my Sunfire. It makes noise even when there is no audio. I've adjusted everything I can. Do they all or is it just mine?

[rich0372]

Hey when I got mine it did the same thing My dealer said it was my tv cable line {the amp in the sub was picking up noise from it} I purchased a video interface that eliminates ground loops and the hum went away If you want anymore info you can pm me Rich

[Prozakk]

2 subs, with no problems: stack them.

[Azeke]

Alright with some regret, my Subfire Mark IV has returned, repaired under warranty, including upgrades.

What upgrades you may ask?

1) Replaced the passive cone (orginal issue) including a amp upgrade.

2) Upgraded a module to eliminate hum, (even though I didn't have that issue).

3) One other thing that I don't recall.

4) No cost.

Way to go Sunfire :T .

I have to tweak it now, to see how it compares to the Sunfire Jr. I started to tell my dealer to keep it and take the loss, but my curiosity has the best of me. We will see said the blind man, as he grabbed his hammer and saw 8) .

Just a side note, my wife ask me is that the original or an upgrade. She knows me well . Not this time dear.

I'll keep you posted,

Azeke

[jimmyp58]

Are you sure Azeke or should you be posting this under the HT Addiction thread too! LOL!!

Jim

[Azeke]

Probably so Jim. but for now I am content, where I am 8), if you know what I mean.

Regards,

Azeke

[Azeke]

Okay,

After further tweaking, the Sunfire Mark IV is definitely the one for Movies/HT, (due to it's large cone size). The Sunfire Jr. was much quicker for music, but I'd rather have the Mark IV, due to it's chest thumping capabilities.

Regards,

Azeke

[dwilson28]

Video interface

Where can you buy the viedo inferface the address ground loops

Hey when I got mine it did the same thing My dealer said it was my tv cable line {the amp in the sub was picking up noise from it} I purchased a video interface that eliminates ground loops and the hum went away If you want anymore info you can pm me Rich

[Andrew Pratt]

There's a couple of options here...the best is to buy a grounding block at a store like Radio Shack that goes inline with your coax cable. You then ground the metal block to your house ground (or water pipes etc). These are about $5 so they're cheap and very effective when installed properly. There's also other inline filters that can help that range in cost from very expensive to slightly less expensive. I'd try the grounding block first.

[Spookyslow]

Sunfire Sig

I had the hum/buzz problem with my Sunfire Signature.....then it mysteriously went away. But of couse, because I'm writing about it now, it'll return.

I love my Sunfire for movies/Ht but I'm a little dissappointed with it's performance with music. Don't get me wrong, it's a not horrendous and unforgivable but just a little dissappointing.

Any advise for 'tuning' it up a bit?

BTW, when I first plugged my Sunfire in, the wife was thinking the Balrog was actually in our basement :lol:

[Andrew Pratt]

If its not getting the job done for movies move its position until you find something more even in freq response.

[Azeke]

I had the hum/buzz problem with my Sunfire Signature.....then it mysteriously went away. But of couse, because I'm writing about it now, it'll return.

I love my Sunfire for movies/Ht but I'm a little dissappointed with it's performance with music. Don't get me wrong, it's a not horrendous and unforgivable but just a little dissappointing.

Any advise for 'tuning' it up a bit?

BTW, when I first plugged my Sunfire in, the wife was thinking the Balrog was actually in our basement :lol:

I believe due to the larger cone size as compared to the Sunfire Jr., music does give a slight problem.

I have tried a couple of things:

a) Turned the sub with the cone facing outward not towards the corner.
b) Adjust the phase control, (trying doing it in stereo mode initially)

Also be aware of your source material, this can yield varying results.

Hope this helps,

Azeke

[junior77blue]

I had a similar buzz issue on my true subwoofer. I had the amp replaced with a mark IV plate and no problems ever since!

[Spookyslow]

Right now, I have the active driver facing the wall with the passive facing the room. Odd as this may be, I think it sounded a better when I had it facing at 45deg angle toward the corner. I don't think I got so much of the 'boominess' I get with it sitting perpendicular to the wall.

Is this possible? Could it be an oddity of my room?

One other thing...when I flip the toggle to video contour from flat, it sounds better in 2 ch listening. But I don't really want to flip the damn switch when I change sources!

Thanks for the advice...

[Azeke]

Quick thoughts:

1) Have you calibrated your speakers, including the sub?

I also made a bass trap out of an old bathroom rug and that seemed to control things a little better.

Moving the sub around, even inches can make a difference, but don't forget to re-calibrate.

The video contour switch just cuts the low frequencies out, I believe @ 40.

Check you menu settings to see if you can do any bass management for music.

Hope this helps,

Azeke

[Spookyslow]

Azeke,
Yeah, I've calibrated the sub and set the LFE level on my processor to 0dB. Maybe I'm just being overly critical or I can keep moving it around my room until I'm happy.

The video contour/flat toggle is a pretty slick thing. I believe with the Sig, the flat setting takes it down to 16hz and the VC setting cuts it at 35. Is it different with Sunfire's over models?

Thanks for the help...

[Stoney]

I had a problem with a 60~ hum/buzz in a pair of B&W 605 S2. First noticed it with system off and subs in standby. Turned out to be an AC motor in a vaporizer used in another room of the house inducing some noise back into the house wiring. Good argument for a dedicated power circuit for the HT. BTW; the vaporizer lost, it's gone, replaced by a new one that doesn't cause any problems.

[Azeke]

The video contour/flat toggle is a pretty slick thing. I believe with the Sig, the flat setting takes it down to 16hz and the VC setting cuts it at 35. Is it different with Sunfire's over models?

Thanks for the help...

Yes, at least for the Mark IV.

You're welcome,

Azeke

BTW, have you tried the Bass trap concept yet?

[Spookyslow]

No i haven't fooled with a bass trap yet.
How did you make your's work? Where did you place it in relation to your sub?

[Azeke]

No i haven't fooled with a bass trap yet.
How did you make your's work? Where did you place it in relation to your sub?

It was a homemade basstrap, as previously stated. I just rolled and old bathroom rug and placed it in the corner, voila, psuedo-bass trap.

I actually live in Centreville, VA. if you wish to further discuss this issue you can PM.

Regards,

Azeke

[Crowman]

Same issue

Hey when I got mine it did the same thing My dealer said it was my tv cable line {the amp in the sub was picking up noise from it} I purchased a video interface that eliminates ground loops and the hum went away If you want anymore info you can pm me Rich

Rich,

could you please tell me how I go about getting rid of this noise for an MKII... I think my sunfire is doing the same thing. I also get a short popping sound as if a signal is going through the sub when it isnt. Any suggestions? thanks. I saw the above post, what if I cannot get to pipes?

crowman